The storm within

"You will have to choose, sooner or later."

Yan Zhaoxuan's words still lingered in my mind, it kept whispering to me like an unseen force, his voice which was calm carried weight of something that seemed inevitable to me. 

I swallowed hard, my heart was still unsteady from what had happened earlier. The Mirror of Truth had not just judged me.. it had exposed me. My inner self. 

A demon. A storm. A power I did not even understand.

I clenched my fists. "Choose what?" I demanded, my voice sharp despite the uncertainty that filled my mind. 

Yan Zhaoxuan turned, his silver hair catching the pale moonlight. His gaze met mine, unreadable as always. "Whether you will fight your fate or embrace it."

My throat tightened. My face couldn't escape the fact that I was confused obviously 

"Embrace it?"

I shook my head. 

"I don't even know what it is!" My voice cracked slightly,show casing the fear i refused to show 

 "The mirror showed me something… something wrong. I felt it, I saw it. That thing in the flames.. 

"Was you."

I stopped breathing.

Yan Zhaoxuan's words struck deep, shaking me more than the Mirror itself had.

"No," I whispered, taking a step back. "That wasn't me. It can't be me."

But Yan Zhaoxuan did not argue. He simply watched me, his expression was neither cruel nor kind. unpredictable 

And somehow, that made it worse.

The leaves rustled as the wind picked up. The temple grounds was very quiet. 

Finally, Yan Zhaoxuan spoke again.

"You should rest."

Rest?

How was I supposed to rest after this?

I wanted to scream, to demand answers, to make him explain what I had seen in that cursed mirror. But when I looked at him again, I knew I wouldn't get them. Not now.

Yan Zhaoxuan had already turned away, 

His robes dancing with the wind, his hand behind him and just like that he disappeared into the shadows, leaving me alone to battle with my mind. 

The Next Morning

When I woke, my body still ached from the impact of the mirror's rejection. My body felt heavy, my thoughts even more so.

But the sect did not stop for me.It definitely won't. 

Training began at sunrise.

I barely had time to collect myself before I was forced into the courtyard with the rest of the new disciples. Elder Jian Rong stood before us, his expression as cold and sharp as the swords strapped to his waist.

"From today, you will begin your training properly," he announced.

 "You are no longer candidates.. you are disciples of Jinghua Sect."

A murmur ran through the crowd, but it was quickly silenced by his next words.

"And that means your weakness is no longer an excuse."

I exhaled sharply, pushing my exhaustion aside. Telling myself that I can do this. No matter what had happened last night, I couldn't afford to fall behind.

Yan Zhaoxuan had allowed me to stay.

Now, I had to prove I deserved it.

Elder Jian Rong's gaze swept over us. 

"We begin with the Trial of Endurance."

I frowned. Another trial? Seriously? 

As if sensing my confusion, the disciple beside me muttered,

 "Jinghua Sect doesn't tolerate the weak. This trial determines who will train under which master."

Great. More tests.

I straightened my back. Fine. I'd win this one too. No room for defeat 

The Trial of Endurance began 

We were led to the base of a mountain. I stared up at the path before us, my heart sinking.

It was steep. And long. Beautiful enough to make someone's mind be at rest. 

"The rules are simple," Elder Jian Rong said. "Reach the top. First ones there will be rewarded. Those who fail to reach it by sunset…" His gaze darkened. "…should reconsider their place in this sect."

I took a deep breath.

Easy. I just had to run up a mountain before sunset.

The moment Elder Jian Rong gave the signal, everyone ran.

At first, I kept up easily. My body moved on instinct, dodging tree roots and leaping over rocks.

But then.. 

The mountain fought back. That was it 

The air grew thinner. The slope got steeper. Every step became harder. Some disciples collapsed halfway. Others slowed down and started to crawl.

My muscles screamed.

My vision blurred.

But I kept moving.

I had to.

"A storm follows you, whether you want it or not."

Yan Zhaoxuan's words haunted me with every step.

I gritted my teeth. Let the storm come. I will survive it.

When I reached the top, my legs couldn't take it anymore, I collapsed and fell on my knees, my heart pounding very fast 

Around me, only a handful of disciples had made it. Some were gasping for breath. Others were unconscious.

I had made it.

But I wasn't sure if I had won.

Night fell before the results were announced. Everyone waited eagerly 

Elder Jian Rong stood before us, his sharp gaze unreadable.

"The top three disciples will be personally trained by the sect's masters," he announced.

I barely had time to react before he continued.. 

"First place: Liang Chen."

A very tall disciple with broad shoulders stepped forward.

"Second place: Bai Xiu."

A slender girl with piercing eyes bowed.

I held my breath.

"And third place…" Elder Jian Rong paused, his gaze settling on me.

I swallowed.

"Fiang mien" 

A stunned silence followed.

Then… 

"Impossible!" someone hissed.

Murmurs erupted around me. I could feel their eyes burning into my skin.

The mirror had rejected me.

So why was I still here?

Elder Jian Rong ignored the whispers. "These three will now be placed under the direct guidance of the sect's masters."

That was all he said before turning and walking away, leaving me standing there, struggling to process what had just happened.

I had been chosen.

Despite the mirror.

Despite the whispers.

Yan Zhaoxuan's voice echoed in my mind. You will have to choose, sooner or later.

But what if the choice had already been made?

And what if…

I didn't have a say in it?

Later That Night

I sat outside my quarters again, staring at the sky. The moon hung beautifully above me, cold and distant.

Everything had changed so fast.

I had come to this sect to prove myself.

Instead, I had become something I didn't understand.

I felt a presence behind me 

I didn't turn. "You're good at sneaking up on people."

Yan Zhaoxuan's voice was calm. "You were lost in thought."

I let out a dry laugh. "It's hard not to be."

Silence.

Then.. 

"You did well today," he said.

I blinked.

Yan Zhaoxuan rarely gave praise. The fact that he had spoken those words at all sent a strange warmth through my chest.

But before I could respond, he added.. 

"It will only get harder from here."

I sighed. "Of course it will."

I looked at him then, searching his face for something.. anything that would tell me why he had allowed me to stay. Why he was watching me so closely.

Finally, I asked the question that had been on my mind for some time now. It's been weighing me down since the moment I saw my reflection in that cursed mirror.

"You said fate isn't absolute." My voice was quiet. "So tell me.. "

I met his gaze, refusing to look away.

"Can I change mine?"

Yan Zhaoxuan studied me for a long moment.

Then, he said

"That depends on you."

I exhaled.

I didn't know what the future held.

But one thing was certain.

Whether my fate was one of darkness or light

I would fight for it.